Core Viewpoint - JPMorgan analyst Christopher Horvers has lowered estimates for Lowe's Companies Inc. ahead of its first-quarter earnings release, indicating a more challenging environment than previously anticipated [1][4]. Group 1: First Quarter Estimates - First-quarter comparable sales estimates for Lowe's have been cut to -2.7%, which is below the Street's consensus of -1.7% and broader buyside expectations of a decline between 2% to 3.5% [1][2]. - Lowe's had previously guided for a -2% comparable sales for the first quarter and expected flat comps for the first half, anticipating a ~$400 million shift of spring sales into the second quarter [2][3]. Group 2: Weather Impact - The company faced significant headwinds from unfavorable DIY weather conditions earlier in the quarter, leading to underperformance compared to Home Depot, even as weather conditions improved later [2][3]. - The second quarter is expected to have easier weather comparisons, but estimates have been slightly lowered to +2% from +3% due to first-quarter underperformance and uncertain weather outlook [3]. Group 3: Earnings and Guidance - The estimated first-quarter EPS for Lowe's is $2.87, compared to the Street's estimate of $2.91 [3]. - Given the expectation of missing the first-quarter outlook, Lowe's is anticipated to adjust its full-year guidance towards the lower end of flat comparable sales and around a 12.3% operating margin [4]. - The company is expected to reiterate confidence in managing tariffs and safeguarding margins despite a less favorable scenario [4].

Core Insights - Lowe's has launched Mylow Companion, an AI tool designed to enhance customer service and expedite associate onboarding, marking a significant advancement in retail technology [1][2][4] Group 1: Product Features - Mylow Companion is purpose-built for associate sales floor devices, providing quick access to product details, project advice, and inventory information to assist home improvement customers [3][4] - The tool utilizes generative AI to improve associate knowledge, enabling them to confidently assist customers regardless of their experience level [4][5] Group 2: Industry Leadership - Lowe's positions itself as a leader in the home improvement industry by being the first retailer to implement an AI tool at scale, enhancing the overall customer and associate experience [4][5][7] - The launch of Mylow Companion follows the introduction of Mylow, Lowe's customer-facing virtual advisor, showcasing the company's commitment to innovation in retail technology [5][7] Group 3: Collaboration and Technology - Mylow Companion was developed in collaboration with OpenAI, leveraging advanced AI capabilities to streamline the customer assistance process [6][5] - Associates can interact with Mylow Companion using natural language prompts, including voice-to-text functionality for hands-free use [6][5] Group 4: Company Overview - Lowe's Companies, Inc. operates over 1,700 home improvement stores and serves approximately 16 million customer transactions weekly, with total fiscal year 2024 sales exceeding $83 billion [9]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on Lowe's (LOW), and highlights the importance of using these recommendations in conjunction with other analytical tools like the Zacks Rank to make informed investment decisions [1][5][10]. Brokerage Recommendations - Lowe's has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.78, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from 34 brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the 34 recommendations, 21 are classified as Strong Buy, accounting for 61.8%, while only one is classified as Buy, making up 2.9% of the total [2]. Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Studies indicate that brokerage recommendations have limited success in guiding investors towards stocks with the highest price increase potential [5]. - Analysts from brokerage firms tend to exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings due to vested interests, issuing five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" [6][10]. Zacks Rank vs. ABR - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock rating tool that classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimate revisions, providing a more reliable indicator of near-term price performance compared to ABR [8][11]. - Unlike ABR, which is based solely on brokerage recommendations, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model that reflects timely earnings estimate revisions, making it a more current predictor of stock prices [9][12]. Current Earnings Estimates for Lowe's - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lowe's has declined by 0.3% over the past month to $12.25, indicating growing pessimism among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [13]. - This decline in earnings estimates has resulted in a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) for Lowe's, suggesting caution despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [14].

Core Insights - Lowe's is launching the Lowe's Style Studio™, an immersive 3D experience designed for Apple Vision Pro, allowing customers to visualize kitchen renovations in real time starting April 26, 2025 [1][4] - The service is available for free appointments at five locations in Northern California, enabling customers to explore design options without financial commitment [7] Company Overview - Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company with over 1,700 stores and approximately 300,000 employees, serving around 16 million customer transactions weekly [7] - The company reported total sales exceeding $83 billion for the fiscal year 2024 [7] Product Features - Lowe's Style Studio™ allows customers to focus on specific kitchen elements or redesign the entire space, providing a full-scale visualization of countertops, backsplashes, and appliances [2][4] - The experience utilizes spatial computing to blend digital content with physical spaces, enhancing customer interaction through intuitive controls [5] Customer Engagement - Customers are encouraged to bring family or professionals to their sessions, which can be mirrored on an iPad for collaborative design [6] - At the end of the session, customers can save and share their design choices digitally, with options to store selections in their Lowe's account for future reference [6] Market Positioning - The introduction of Lowe's Style Studio™ reflects a trend towards personalized, immersive retail experiences powered by technology, aiming to enhance customer confidence in home renovation decisions [4][5]

Core Viewpoint - Lowe's Companies Inc. announced the acquisition of Artisan Design Group for $1.325 billion, expected to close by the end of the current calendar quarter, ahead of its earnings report on May 20, 2025 [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition of ADG is an all-cash deal aimed at enhancing Lowe's position in the professional contractor market, similar to Home Depot's recent acquisition of SRS Distribution [2][3]. - ADG specializes in design, distribution, and installation services for interior surface finishes, which aligns with Lowe's strategy to target the professional segment [2][4]. Group 2: Market Context - Both Lowe's and Home Depot have experienced stock price declines of over 11% and 8% respectively, reflecting challenges in the home improvement sector [3]. - The housing sector's weakness has impacted Lowe's stock performance, but the company anticipates increased spending in the professional contractor business [3][4]. Group 3: Financial Performance - In its last earnings report, Lowe's reported revenue of $18.6 billion, with a return to growth in comparable store sales driven by high single-digit growth in the Pro category [5]. - The acquisition of ADG is expected to expand Lowe's total addressable market by approximately $50 billion, capitalizing on the anticipated growth in new home construction [4]. Group 4: Stock Valuation - Lowe's stock has a P/E ratio of around 18.6, which is below its three-year average of 19.25, indicating it may not be overvalued compared to other sectors [8]. - Analysts have a Moderate Buy rating on Lowe's stock with a consensus price target of $278.74, suggesting a potential gain of 24.4% [9].

Market Overview - The stock market experienced a sharp decline on Monday due to tariff concerns, a falling dollar, and rising yields, leading to uncertainty for consumer goods companies [1] - Notable declines were observed in home improvement retail, consumer retail, and fashion sectors, with Home Depot down 3.6%, Lowe's down 2.8%, Boot Barn down 2.6%, and Deckers Outdoor down 2% [1] Tariff Impact - The market is awaiting signs of tariff negotiations, but as of Monday, no deals were in place, and tariffs of 20% or more remain [2] - If tariffs are a long-term issue rather than a temporary tactic, companies like Deckers Outdoor may face pressure to raise prices or cut margins [3] Economic Concerns - Rising prices due to tariffs could lead to reduced consumer spending, potentially impacting discretionary purchases such as running shoes and home improvement projects [4] - The overall economic impact raises concerns about a possible recession if consumer spending declines significantly [4] Currency and Bond Market Effects - The U.S. dollar index fell by 1.1% on Monday and is down over 10% from its peak in early 2025, making imports at least 20% more expensive due to tariffs [5] - The 10-year government bond yield increased by 16 basis points to 4.41%, indicating investor expectations of higher rates rather than lower ones, contrasting with declining rates in Europe [6] Market Sentiment - The current market is characterized by uncertainty regarding tariffs and the economy, which could lead to reduced consumer spending and negatively affect retailers and fashion companies [7] - The falling dollar and rising yields suggest a potential structural shift in global sentiment, which may lead to lower stock prices as investors demand higher yields from stocks [8]

Group 1: Meeting Overview - President Trump is meeting with major retailers including Target, Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowe's to discuss the impact of tariffs on imported goods [1][3] - The meeting will take place at the White House and will focus on the effects of Trump's tariffs on these companies [1] Group 2: Tariff Details - Trump increased tariffs on imports from China to 145% earlier this month and announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs, applying a 10% duty on countries that have not retaliated [5][6] - More than 75 countries have reached out to the U.S. to negotiate on trade issues, and Trump has authorized a 90-day pause with a lowered reciprocal tariff of 10% during this period [6][7] Group 3: Company Responses - Home Depot stated it regularly meets with government leaders on issues affecting its business [4] - Walmart's CEO Doug McMillon will be attending the meeting with Trump [3]

Group 1 - President Trump is set to meet with executives from major retailers including Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and Lowe's to discuss the impact of his trade policies, particularly tariffs [1][2] - The meeting is not listed on the public schedule, and the specific executives attending are not disclosed [2] - Retailers are facing challenges due to tariffs, which threaten their import-heavy business models, especially as consumers seek low prices amid high inflation [2][3] Group 2 - Walmart is in a relatively strong position as approximately two-thirds of its products sold in the U.S. are made, grown, or assembled domestically, with only one-third imported, primarily from China and Mexico [4] - Target faces more significant challenges as it relies heavily on overseas manufacturing for its discretionary merchandise, and its annual revenue has been stagnant for the past four years, projecting only 1% sales growth for the current fiscal year [5]

Group 1 - The primary goal of the "High Income DIY Portfolios" Marketplace service is to provide high income with low risk and capital preservation for DIY investors [1] - The service offers seven portfolios designed for income investors, including retirees or near-retirees, featuring 3 buy-and-hold portfolios, 3 rotational portfolios, and a 3-bucket NPP model portfolio [1] - The portfolios include two high-income portfolios, two dividend growth investment (DGI) portfolios, and a conservative NPP strategy portfolio aimed at low drawdowns and high growth [1]

The home improvement retail sector in the United States is dominated by two giants — The Home Depot Inc. (HD) and Lowe’s Companies Inc. (LOW) . As the top players in the industry, both companies serve millions of homeowners, DIY enthusiasts and professional contractors (Pro) across North America. While these companies share a similar customer base and product assortment, their strategic approaches, market positions and financial performances set them apart. With the housing market in flux and consumer spend ...